A new Zero-based Time Table is in the works with much lower number of trains and stoppages. In a major paradigm shift, Indian Railways is exploring a new time table – Zero-Based -- with theaim to reduce the number of trains and stoppages post-COVID.As the COVID-19 pandemic wreaks havoc across the globe by aecting life and disintegrating economic activities, the state-run...more...

transporter has been equally hit with low passenger and freight business. India had the sixth largest number of COVID-19 cases – over 2 lakh -- till Saturday morning.With the Centre announcing a graded phasing out of the countrywide lockdown, and the economysputtering back to life, Indian Railways is also gearing up to return to normality.However, the passengerbusiness will not be the same again as a multi-disciplinary team involving senior railway ocials and theOperation Research wing of IIT Mumbai is working out details to devise a Zero-Based Time Table on the rail network.2020 Railways May Drop Trains with Low Occupancy, Reduce Stoppages Post-"There is a need to attempt an ecient time table in the new paradigm post-COVID," a Railway directiveissued to the directorate concerned stated. According to the plan under consideration, trains having less than 50% and stations that have very low ticket sales are likely to be dropped in the Zero-Based Time Table.A Zero-Based Time Table means a complete new time table. Every year the Railways has new time table, which is mostly a repetition of the previous one with some changes here and there, plus accommodating of new trains and stoppages.In the new time table, many trains and stoppages, found to be commercially not viable, are expected to be eliminated. The Railways maintain that dropping ‘unviable’ trains and stoppages would increase operational efficiency.There were about 2,200 Mail/Express trains besides Rajdhani, Duronto, Shatabdi and Vande Bharat services operational before the COVID-19 outbreak. Currently, about 200 mail/express and 30 AC trains are running as special trains besides Shramik Specials during the lockdown. After COVID crisis, regular train services will not be the same as before, according to sources close to the development. They said this would require a need-based fresh time table with less number of trains and stoppages.Incidentally, the letter addressed to the directorate concerned mentions "Review stoppages", and the "needfor identifying passenger and freight corridors and maintenance corridor.There are many trains that have low occupancy rates as well as stations where passenger footfalls are negligible. For instance, if a train running on a particular route stops at 10 stations and some of these do not have adequate passengers, then those stoppages are likely to be dropped.Similarly if a particular train has a low occupancy rate or the rate of return is less than the minimum requirement, then it will be discontinued in the new time table.However, this would be tough to implement, as cancelling of train services and eliminating stoppages are sure to face stiff political opposition, sources said.While many stoppages and train services are operational due to the political considerations as also social obligation, the Railways has been constantly avoiding this issue despite facing mounting losses, as it fears a political backlash.Now, with coronavirus scare reigning supreme, the public transporter seems to have found an opportunity to put in place a process to chart out a practical course of action.Hence, a massive exercise is on to review train occupancy and stoppages to nalise the new time table.ways May Drop Trains with Low Occupancy, Though the earlier plan was to complete the exercise before June 30 so that a fresh time table is in force from July, there are possibilities of delay.Since the Railway passenger business is incurring heavy losses and is cross-subsidised from freight profit the pruning exercise is expected to be carried out to cater to market forces.Amid the lockdown, Railway freight earnings saw a shortfall of Rs 8,283 crore compared with the corresponding period last year. Except foodgrain, other goods carried were much lower than the last year.Also, as there are no regular passenger services right now, barring Shramik and AC specials in April and May, passenger revenue is also down by around Rs 9,000 crore.Meanwhile, the public transporter is in the process of reviving some services in phases. While freight and parcel services are on, more passenger-carrying trains are expected to be run across the country as special trains, besides Shramik Specials.However, one may have to wait a bit longer for regular train services, which are not likely to resume before September-October

Mentiond in the article that shramik train passengers loot items from stalls, somewhere in Prayagraj. Similar issues faced at Kanpur Central station for water....looks like so many issues being faced when trains are entering NR, ECR territory. From originating stations across, food and other items are being provided, but there seems to be complete lack of co-ordination after train starts its journey.One of the train Surat-Motihari it is mentioned reached 80 hrs late !!!!

The special trains taking lakhs of stranded migrant workers back home during the coronavirus lockdown will now run at full capacity, the Railways said today. The "Shramik Special" trains will also have three stops in the destination state apart from the final stop on the request made by states, the Railways state.The capacity of passengers in each special train should be equal to the number of sleeper berths on the train, the Railways said.Middle berths too will be allotted to passengers in the special trains, unlike earlier.The...more...

"Shramik Special" trains have 24 coaches with a capacity to carry 72 passengers in each coach. Currently, these trains are running with 54 passengers in each coach due to social distancing norms. So far, the Indian Railways has ferried over 5 lakh passengers since May 1."The Railways has a capacity to run 300 trains per day and we want to maximise it. We want to carry as many migrants home as possible over the next few days and have appealed to states to send approvals," a senior official was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.Earlier, the Indian Railways had issued a set of guidelines for its zones for running the special trains, saying the trains should have at least 90 per cent occupancy to operate and ensure social distancing by not allotting the middle berth to any passenger.he government announced the special trains to ferry migrant workers back home after a huge backlash over stranded workers walking back to their home states. On Saturday, the govenrment said the Railways has operated 302 "Shramik Special" trains since May 1 and ferried home more than 3 lakh migrants stranded in various parts of the country.While Gujarat remained one of the top originating stations followed by Kerala, the states receiving the highest numbers of returnees were Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.After criticism from the opposition for making the migrants pay for their train journey, official sources said the government was already subsidising 85 per cent of the ticket fare and that it was up to the states to bear the remaining cost of the ticket.

The rakes of the train have been hauled at the railway yard at Sadar Basaar in Delhi.As many as 60 railway employees from Kerala and Tamil Nadu are stuck in Delhi owing to 21-day lockdown. They work on Thiruvananthapuram-New Delhi Kerala Express (train number 12625).They reached New Delhi railway station on March 22 and 23 as the last batch of trains before the Railways announced suspension of services till March 31. The employees would now have to wait till April 14 as the country is in a 21-day lockdown period. “When...more...

we arrived we were assured of return trip on Wednesday. But now it seems we are stuck till the lockdown ends,” said an employee.The rakes of the train have been hauled at the railway yard at Sadar Basaar in Delhi. The employees complained that they do not have enough food to sustain. “It has been three days since we came here. The rice and lentils we carried are about to finish. We are also worried about our health,” said an employee. The employees are hoping that the Railways would issue special rakes for all staff stranded at the yard or allow them to board freight trains which are operational.

ALL FUNCTIONS IN RESERVATION OFFICE AND BOOKING OFFICE IN RAILWAY STATIONS TO REMAIN SUSPENDEDWith effect from 22-3-2020 all train services have been cancelled upto 31-3-2020 by Southern Railway to strengthen the efforts already taken to contain the spread of COVID-19.Taking this into account and to avoid gathering of crowd in public places like railway stations the following further measures are taken and advised1. PRS and UTS ticket counters to remain closed: In view of the cancellation of all type of train services relaxation of refund rules have been already notified. It...more...

is reiterated that for all trains cancelled by Railways during the journey period from 21st March to 21st June 2020, refund across the counter can be taken on submission of ticket upto 3 months from date of journey (instead of existing rule of 3 days/72 hours excluding day of journey).Keeping in mind the relaxed refund rules and in compliance with various advisories issued for social distancing and against crowding in public places, no ticket counter in Reservation office for reserved tickets and no UTS ticket counters in booking office for unreserved ticket will operate during this period from 22-3-2020 upto 31-3-2020. Hence passengers are requested not to visit stations for claiming refund of the reserved ticket at PRS counters in Reservation office as they will not be functioning anyway for all purposes during this period upto 31-3-2020.2. No fresh advance booking in ticket counters in Reservation office will be done during this period upto 31-3-2020. However online booking for advance reservation through IRCTC website will remain available.3. UTS on Mobile app also has been suspended upto 31-3-2020.4. However adequate support staffs are available at stations, booking offices and PRS centers for assisting and helping any passengers in case they turn up without having awareness of these arrangements.Railways will never be completely shut down or unmanned and its dedicated staff are always available to carry out their responsibilities as part of Indian government’s public services.And Passengers are requested to cooperate with Railway administration for measures taken to contain COVID-19.

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